Posco Cheongam Foundation selects 32 fellows for 18th Posco Science Fellowship

The Posco Cheongam Foundation has selected 32 early-career scientists working at domestic universities as fellows of the 18th Posco Science Fellowship, holding a certificate ceremony at Posco Center in Seoul, the foundation announced Thursday. Each fellow will receive 100 million won ($73,800) in research funding over two years.

The Posco Science Fellowship is a flagship program of the Posco Cheongam Foundation that identifies outstanding young scientists appointed to domestic universities within the past three years and supports their development into world-class researchers. Since its launch in 2009, the program has selected 575 scientists and disbursed 39.5 billion won in research funding over 18 years through this year.

This year, the foundation added an environment category to identify researchers who can contribute to addressing climate change and environmental challenges. The move expands the program's coverage from six fields — mathematics, physics, chemistry, life sciences, metals and new materials, and energy materials — to seven, with two fellows selected from the newly established category. The foundation plans to gradually increase support for environmental researchers going forward.

"Over the past 18 years, the Posco Science Fellowship has supported the bold research endeavors of early-career scientists and helped strengthen the country's competitiveness in basic science," a foundation official said. "With the addition of the environment category, we will redouble our efforts to identify and support researchers who can lead the response to the climate crisis and build a sustainable future."

At the certificate ceremony, Seoul National University Distinguished Professor Hyeon Tae-hwan delivered a special lecture, sharing his experience identifying original research topics and building his own distinct area of inquiry.

Yonsei University Professor Kim Myo-jeong, who spoke on behalf of this year's fellows, said she would "continue pursuing creative and challenging research as a Posco Science Fellow and contribute to the advancement of science through meaningful results."

Beyond funding, the foundation holds annual academic exchange forums by field to help fellows build research networks and pursue collaborative projects. Fellows from different universities and research institutions use these forums to share findings and ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration, and the exchanges have led to joint research.

A notable example is the collaboration between KAIST Professor Lee Seung-jae, a second-cohort fellow, and Yonsei University Professor Seo Jin-su, a 10th-cohort fellow. The two teams combined research on aging in Caenorhabditis elegans with studies of human cells and disease models to demonstrate that ribosome-associated quality control — a mechanism that corrects errors in cellular protein synthesis — is a key pathway in suppressing aging and age-related diseases. The study shed light on the mechanisms of aging and pointed to new treatment possibilities for related conditions. It was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2025.

Meanwhile, the Posco Cheongam Foundation recently named Heo Won-bae, chairman of the Bucheon Sustainable Development Council, as the second recipient of its Cheongam Heroes award, holding a ceremony at Posco Center in Seoul — part of the foundation's broader range of public-interest activities aimed at fulfilling its social responsibilities.

The Cheongam Heroes program recognizes unsung contributors who have quietly practiced sharing and spread positive influence in their communities. Recipients receive a prize of 30 million won and a commemorative plaque.